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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Scam Email: James Harry

Here is a classic series of emails that went to an artist who forwarded it to me. Notice how he carefully presents each part of the scam in subsequent emails until he finally reveals the core of the scam: overpaying (with what will turn out to be a stolen credit card number) and asking that the overage be forwarded to his shipping company (who does not exist). He had not yet mentioned the "shipper" would then require payment via Western Union but that would most certainly come in the next email - had the artist not gotten suspicious and began searching online and confirmed it was a scam.

"Kathleen thanks for your info on the Internet. I came so close to getting ripped off. Here is the conversation from a so called " hotel owner" in London. did a search on his address and it is a car dealership. Plus could not find the hotel on the Internet. 
 
Then I came across your blog. 
 
Thank you,
 
Diane"

First Email:
From: "Mr.james Harry" [mr.jamesh@yahoo.com]
Date Sent: Dec 15, 2011, at 4:35 AM

Hello,

I am Mr.James Harry, i want to buy painting works for hotel installation/decoration mostly for these places; guest rooms, hallways, and the reception.  I would prefer contemporary  abstracts and figurative styles. oil on canvas and water color.
Could you please let me know if you have some works available for sale,also get me the price details for the works. i am going to pay you with credit card.
Kindly get back to me for more details.
Thanks.

BEST REGARDS,
MR. JAMES HARRY.
Owner lewis Hotel & spa
20 Radley Mews
Kensington
London
W8 6JP
+447011130170
Second email:
From: "Mr.james Harry" [mr.jamesh@yahoo.com]
Date Sent: Dec 16, 2011, at 11:44 AM

Hello Diane,
Thanks for your reply. I like some of the works here, they will make a nice fit for the decorations. I will take 3 works . Please do know that i made arrangement with a shipping agent that will come for the pick up. he is going to do the shipping with other items too. he will contact you immediately we are through with the payment.
I will like to see these works hanged in my hotel As soon as possible.

Please confirm the grand cost of the following Works for payment.

pink ladies $475.00
spring tulips &1,200 and hamony $1,500  Total = $3,175

Looking forward to your urgent reply.
BEST REGARDS,
MR. JAMES HARRY.
Owner lewis Hotel & spa
20 Radley Mews
Kensington
London
W8 6JP
+447011130170
Third Email:
From: "Mr.james Harry" [mr.jamesh@yahoo.com]
Date: December 17, 2011 12:30:17 AM CST
Subject: Payment Arrangement
Hello Diane,
Sorry i did not tell you how I got your contact, it was through the net. I was looking up for an Art gallery to request for artworks for my hotel renovation and i came across your contact.
YES I love the works. I am going to send you my credit card details for the payment proper.
once you are in receipt of it, you are authorize to charge my credit card,i will send it together with the three digit number and expiration date , or even the scan copy ,then you charge the card,  it will reflect and confirm the total amount of $8,500.00USD in your account, then deduct $3,175 as full cost of the works, and transfer the balance of $5,325  to my shipping agent for the pick up and shipping of the works and other materials. I will forward to you his Information details immediately i receive your confirmation with this.
Confirm and get me these details for the payment

NAME, PHONE  NUMBERS FOR SECURITY REASONS AND YOUR GALLERY ADDRESS.

NOTE ,i will pay,any expenses or fees incurred for the charges.
I am looking forward to your urgent confirmation ,

BEST REGARDS,
MR. JAMES HARRY.
Owner lewis Hotel & spa
20 Radley Mews
Kensington
London
W8 6JP
+447011130170

7 comments:

  1. 20 Radley Mews is actually 20A & 20B - two small Mews flats.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What I received today:

    Thanks for your Email and interest toward the Job position on Craigslist. My name is James Harry, I am married with 2 kids. We are relocating to the US from United Kingdom. The purpose of our relocation to the United States is basically because of the Seminar on United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 6th meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions (WG8J 6), and the North American industry association Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) in partnership with the World Green Roof Infrastructure Network (WGRIN).

    The duration of our stay in the United states will be 6 months, so i need someone who could help take care of the house, Help my Wife and watch my kids while am off to work also Someone that can help in running some errands. The basic reason for this post and search for an helper is because my wife is Physically challenged and has been on the wheel chair for about 13 months now so it's been hard for her to take care of the kids and get around on her own.

    I'm willing to Pay $400 weekly plus $50 for transportation or gas fee, i will be needing your services for only 5 hours daily and at any suitable time that fits your schedule but preferably in the afternoons between 12 noon and 7pm, Mondays through Fridays.. I believe you will be fit for this position in as much you will prove yourself to be a reliable and good person.

    We have a financier that is based in the United states and he will be handling the payment and some other expenses, so he will be the one that will be taking care of your payment as well, I will instruct him to pay for the firsts week before our arrival so as to secure your service, actually i should have paid for more weeks but i will extend the payment if am satisfied with your service after 2 weeks.

    My financier will be making out a check to you before our arrival, you will be receiving a check of $2,650.00 out of which you will be deducting your pay for the firsts week and you will be using the remaining to buy Groceries/Food Stuffs and other things needed in the house, you will be getting this Food Stuffs before our arrival date which is on or before July 31st.

    As of now, I am still unsure of the Physical address of the apartment where i will be staying but will instruct The estate agent to mail the keys/Address of Our apartment to you as soon as the place is ready so that you can do all other necessary preparations before Our arrival, I have reasons to believe that the painter and electrician are working on getting the apartment fixed and ready for use.

    I will email you the shopping list as soon as i have gotten confirmation that you have received the payment. That being said,my financier would be needing the following Information to make out a check payment to you immediately upon your acceptance of the Job:

    Name to be on Check :
    Home address or Office Address :
    City :
    State :
    Zip code :
    Age :
    Sex :
    Phone number very important:
    Email address:

    ReplyDelete
  3. James Harry contacted me through Facebook. He told me he has US$15 in cash in Malaysia and that he wanted to give me the money to invest in Australia...property etc. I asked a lot of questions but there was a lack of credible responses. He wanted me to fly to Malaysia where his trusted lady would hand over the cash. I explained that he needed approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board before he could invest here but he ignored this. He wanted to trust each other "man to man" and didn't even enquire about the usual processes for property investment. I have ceased contact with this scammer. He seemed confident in trusting me without questioning my position.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yikes! That sounded scammy from the word go. Good move to just cease contact.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I recently..came across..mr.james harry...he introduced him self as a man that was going on a business trip..and had no time to collect money that was owned to him by one of his associates..and if I could accept,a cashier check for him ..all he needed was my mailing address to send it..it was a $7500''check..I was to put it in my account..send him $5000.00, and keep the rest for helping him out..I went to withdraw the money..I found out the cheques..was fake..I thank god I didn't have any money..in the account.I could have went to jail.I have a little girl..when I told him that the check was fake ..he said his friends could ruin me.that I was a lier..and he knows I'm keeping the money..I feel so ashamed..

    ReplyDelete
  6. Don't feel ashamed. You didn't send them any money and who cares if this immoral rotten scammer is mad! Trying to make you feel guilty and ashamed enough to send them money is their last desperate attempt to get their scam to work. If he sends any more emails, tell him keep 'em comin' because the police has asked you to send the emails on to them. That ought to send the scammer cockroach back into the dark shadows. Or move on to their next victim, which is what they really do.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have a set of rims and tires on a web site for sale. James Harry contacted me and wanted to buy them. He stated he would send me check through the mail and he would have movers pick up items at my house. I didn't like that so I asked if I could meet them somewhere else he said sure. Then that's when I got suspicious. He then told me that the amount of the check would cover my product with extra for holding fees and also the movers fee that's when I stopped contact thanks for reading this hope this doesn't happen to anyone else

    ReplyDelete